Shame the

It appears government is taking lightly the debilitating teen pregnancy issue judging by the recent debate by legislators in the House this week. Or, are we being too critical for nothing? Concerned members have aired the views about the challenge. The debate and teen pregnancy statistics bring to the fore how rotten and heartless adult males in this country have become, to unzip and deflower their daughters and grandchildren without conscience, while the State sits on the terraces and watches the spectre with its hands in its pockets. Hardly a day goes by without the media reporting on girl child abuses involving even toddlers. A myriad of lacks fan this demonic sex thirst that perpetrators continue to quench with innocent girls, with impunity. Why hasn't government taken a firm stand to prosecute and incarcerate these rapists destroying nation-building efforts executed by lobbyists and even the First Lady's youth “Be Free” campaign? What is the point of spending conferences and signing treaties and adopting child protection policies and laws that courts rarely apply? Disturbing and ironic was youth minister Jerry Ekandjo's joke reminiscing about past practices where the girl was tied and burnt with grass when she fell pregnant. For a minister heading a ministry in charge of the very youth he is supposed to protect, such jokes question the minister's conscience. Sanity must prevail and unless government takes a tough stance and immediate action, future presidents will lead a population of bitter and traumatised women and children born out of immoral acts. We implore the government to tackle the teen pregnancy catastrophe with the urgency it deserves. The status quo encourages men to continue to terrorise and lure teenagers into the bush, bedrooms and cars without fear for their pleasure. Hats off to health minister Bernhard Haufiku and home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana for the sane contributions and show of grave concern. Any sane and responsible citizen sees this issue as a cause for grave concern and not a laughing matter. At this rate, the prisons would be bursting to the seams with convicted men but it is rather the understaffed hospitals grappling to deal with the life-threatening deliveries of underage girls mostly in remote rural areas. Do we care?